"Yum. You know, if you're up there working at the Svenssons’ company, you might catch a billionaire," Ida continued, refusing to give up on my love life.
Yeah, trap him in this article… But think of the student loans you can pay off!
"Maybe…"
"The way to a man's heart is food. And a sexy Halloween costume!" Ida winked.
"I’m not sure about that," I said. "I've been emotionally eating and my cake YouTube videos haven’t been helping. Someone has to eat that cake after I bake it! Shameful secret: I have eaten a whole cake in about a day and a half. I don't know if I'd look so hot in a sexy Halloween costume."
"Men like something to grab onto," Ida assured me.
"Well, I have a lot." My blouse was a little tight over my boobs. Summer had ended late this year, and I had only just taken out all my fall clothes. They were slightly snug. Okay, maybe a little more than slightly.
"If you really want to be in the Halloween spirit, we're putting on the annualMacbethplay," Ida said. "We need a young person for Lady MacB. If you have a boyfriend locked up in that old haunted house, bring him along too. Rehearsals are starting soon."
"I guess it depends on who I would be acting against. So a tentative yes?"
* * *
My Vespa chuggedup the hill to the glass-and-steel Svensson PharmaTech offices. I'd never been there. The company had just been building the facility when I’d left for college almost a decade ago. When I walked into the lobby, it contained warm woods, white terrazzo floors, and actual live trees.
"They totally need to dress these up for Halloween," I said to myself as I took out my phone. "With some hay bales, café lights, and pumpkins, this would be awesome for a Halloween party."
I was so busy taking selfies that I didn’t even notice the other woman standing next to the reception desk.
"Bronwyn?" My enemy from high school, Bronwyn had gone out of her way to make me feel terrible. She had spread nasty rumors about me, insulted me in the hallways, and lied to the teachers and told them I was cheating off her paper.
"Penny McCarthy," she said looking me up and down.
"Do you work here?" I asked. "I'm here for a new temp position."
She stared down her nose at me and flipped her glossy hair. The rain had made my own hair even frizzier than normal. Suddenly I was back to being the abandoned, friendless teenager.
Bronwyn sneered at me. "It figures you're just a temp. Some of us didn't waste money on a journalism and basket-weaving degree. I went for accounting, and now I have a cushy job. And I'm going to land one of the Svenssons as a husband. Just you watch."
I glared at her.
"I'll take you up to Mr. Svensson," she said, waving to the receptionist.
How has Bronwyn been hired for a real job and not me?I fretted as I followed her.Wait, I don't care. You’re an adult, Penny. So what if you’re a temp. Your real job is journalist. You're going to write an awesome article. You'll get a book deal. Bronwyn will be so jealous.
I followed her into a conference room. There, glowering at me, was Mr. D-bag Svensson from the train station. He was flanked by several of his brothers.
"Garrett," Bronwyn said, "this is the new temp, Penny."
His eyes narrowed when he saw me. "I didn't ask for her. Send her back."
"With pleasure," Bronwyn simpered.
"I guess you still haven't found any Halloween cheer," I snapped.
6
Garrett
Mace hissed at me, "Garrett, we need the extra hands. We're trying to buy Thalian Biotech. We need full marketing packages. We need a welcome committee."
"What can you do?" I asked the curvy redhead.Don't think about her curves. That's inappropriate.
